In a bid to enhance the capacity of its alumni organization representatives and galvanize preparations for its 70th anniversary, Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT) held the inaugural session of the Alumni Leadership Program “Climb”. Held over four days from March 31 to April 3, the course drew 38 delegates from 22 provincial alumni organizations. They participated in theoretical seminars, revisited the Emei Mountain Practice Base, and paid visits to alumni-run enterprises in Zigong.
Program Kickoff: High Expectations
The opening ceremony was held on the afternoon of April 1 in the university’s sixth conference room. President Xu Qiang and Vice Party Secretary Hu Bing attended and delivered speeches. All Program participants and heads of relevant university departments were present. Huang Guoli, Party Committee Member and Deputy General Manager of the Chengdu Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the Program’s corporate sponsor, was also invited to give a congratulatory speech. The ceremony was hosted by Liu Xiaoling, Director of the Office of Cooperation and Development and the Alumni Affairs Office (also the Education Development Foundation Office).
Site of the opening ceremony
President Xu Qiang extended a warm welcome to all alumni representatives and expressed sincere gratitude for their long-standing support. He introduced the university’s major initiatives and achievements under China’s Double First-Class development strategy. He stressed the role of alumni as strategic partners in talent cultivation, technology transfer and industry-academic collaboration. He warmly welcomed alumni to return often and to play an active part in next year’s 70th anniversary celebration.
Xu Qiang delivering his speech
Hu Bing echoed the call for renewed alumni engagement and sincerely thanked the Program’s sponsors. He urged a stronger service mindset, bold innovation, and improved teamwork in alumni work. With preparations for the university’s 70th anniversary already underway, he called on alumni to act as ambassadors, organizers and contributors, respectively to tell CDUT’s story, to reach out and engage more alumni in the celebration, and to support the events, fundraising, and academic-industrial collaboration.
Hu Bing delivering his speech
Representing the program sponsor, ICBC’s Huang Guoli extended congratulations and reaffirmed the bank’s close partnership with CDUT. He noted that ICBC has provided tailored financial services to the university, facilitating the integration of scientific and industrial innovation and accelerating the commercialization of research outcomes.
Huang Guoli delivering his speech
Speaking on behalf of all 38 participants, alumnus Duan Jun expressed heartfelt thanks to his alma mater. He emphasized the importance of this rare learning opportunity and vowed to strengthen communication and collaboration among alumni. He also pledged his active support for the university’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
Group photo at the opening ceremony
On-Campus Seminars: Sharing Insight, Shaping the Future
On the morning of April 2, academic sessions took place in the university’s third conference room. Professor Gao Hui, Director of the Department of Social Sciences of CDUT, delivered a keynote titled “Alumni Economy 2.0: A New Path for Industry-Academia Collaboration.” He defined the concept of alumni economy, outlined its features and models, and presented the shift from one-way alumni support to a mutually beneficial ecosystem of collaborative innovation. Pu Yan, a senior investment and financing expert and a 2001 graduated student in Information Engineering, gave a talk titled “Industrial Trends in the New Economy by 2025,” which analyzed macroeconomic trends in China and abroad, interpreted fiscal and monetary policy, and forecast key highlights of the evolving economic landscape. Li Haiyang, partner at Chengdu Hongzhuo Technology Co. and expert in AI commercialization, presented “The AI Era: Innovations and Transformations in Enterprise Management.” He explained the three stages of AI development, the functions of tools like DeepSeek, and how large models are reshaping industries, empowering enterprise management in localized applications.
In the afternoon, Zhang Huiying and Li Haihua, deputy directors of the university’s anniversary planning office, introduced the overall planning for the event and demonstrated the alumni information system. Pu Shengyan, Deputy Director of the CDUT Institute of Science and Technology Development, showcased the university’s key research achievements and their application. Zhou Huailai, Dean of the School of Continuing Education, outlined non-degree training programs and provided details on master’s degree applications via the “equivalent academic level” pathway. Hu Qinlong, Deputy Director of the Industrial Development Institute and Chairman of the Science Park of CDUT, presented the progress of the science park, technology transfer cases, and the alumni entrepreneurship incubation model.
Field Visits: Broadened Perspectives
On April 3, University Party Secretary Professor Liu Qingyou, Vice Party Secretary Professor Hu Bing, and Standing Committee Members Vice Presidents Zeng Ying and Zhou Zhongli led a group of alumni to visit Sichuan Yuande Security Detection Equipment Co., Ltd.—an enterprise founded by CDUT alumni—and the Zigong Aviation Industrial Park. During the visit, the delegation gained insights into the alumni enterprise’s operations, accomplishments, and future development plans. At the aviation industrial park, they explored the broader ecosystem and supply chain of the local aerospace industry.
Field visit
Program Conclusion: A Shared Journey of Gratitude and Growth
The closing ceremony was held at Sichuan Yuande Security Detection Equipment Co., Ltd., where Professor Liu Qingyou gave concluding remarks and, together with other university leaders, presented certificates of completion to the participants.
Graduation ceremony
Liu congratulated the alumni on successfully completing the Program and emphasized that the university’s high-quality development is inseparable from alumni support. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting alumni, not only as former students but as long-term partners in innovation and development. He encouraged everyone to seize opportunities and meet challenges head-on. In the end, he called on all alumni worldwide to take the 70th anniversary as a catalyst for action, fully utilizing the alumni network to promote cooperation and development and contribute meaningfully to building a world-class university.
Alumni Chen Xiaorong (Class of 1988, Hydraulic Engineering) and He Shunxun (Class of 2003, Engineering Geology) shared heartfelt reflections, thanking the university and alumni association for organizing the Program. They emphasized that mutual support between alumni and their alma mater is key to shared success. They pledged to actively support the anniversary events and assist in preparations under the university’s guidance.
Liu Qingyou delivering remarks
Certificate presentation ceremony
This was a journey to honour a glorious past and carry forward the spirit of exploration. Before start of the course on March 31, participants visited CDUT’s Emei Mountain Practice Base. Led by instructors, they retraced their former fieldwork routes, reliving cherished student memories. As they reflected on the past, stood grounded in the present, and looked toward the future, generations of CDUT alumni who began their journey at Emei have carried forward the spirit of perseverance, innovation, and dedication—continuing to forge new paths and bring honor to their university and nation.
Retracing the Emei Mountain fieldwork route
During the Program, several alumni were also invited to attend the second session of the Sixth Faculty and Staff Congress and Labour Union Representative Conference.
